Tom McVicker leaves behind musical legacy at Olympic High School
Olympic High School's Vocal Music Farewell Concert on Thursday wasn't simply a chance to hear the school's treble, chamber and jazz choirs sing their hearts out and celebrate the Class of 2023 performers one final time.
It was also a tip of the cap and a stroll down memory lane for Tom McVicker, the school's retiring choral director. The 62-year-old Bremerton native started teaching in 1983 and began his career at Olympic in 1988. For 35 years, he passionately taught the Trojans to sing loud, sing proud and sing for life.
"Guys, I'm going to have a blast tonight," McVicker told his students during rehearsal. "I want you to have a blast, too."
Son of the late Raleigh McVicker, former Olympic College choral music educator and Bremerton Community Chorus director, Tom McVicker delivered a fist-pump while walking onto the stage, acknowledging the applause from audience members who filled Olympic's 450-seat auditorium to capacity. The Trojans' three student choirs performed 11 songs. McVicker provided introductions for each tune — manning the piano for several of them — and didn't hesitate to share stories or interact with the crowd.
"OK, I'm old," McVicker said after he earned some whistles while discussing the start of his career at Olympic. "But how about this little fact: my first class of seniors in '88 is 53 years old!"
McVicker, who shared an office with Central Kitsap School District music educator Paul Williams for the past 33 years, spoke about music being a critical and welcome part of the culture at Olympic. He thanked school and district administration/staff for their support and thanked parents in the audience — some of whom were his former students — for entrusting him with their children.
"You can't go wrong with the arts," he said. "It fills up the heart, it fills up the mind."
Two of the night's most poignant moments came after McVicker's director duties were complete.
First, his students surprised him with an emotional rendition of "You Raise Me Up," with senior Gracie Barney leading on the piano.
"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be," the group sang, before altering the song's final line. "You raise us up to more than we can be."
A tearful Barney called McVicker one of her favorite teachers and friends.
"You have always carried us and always brought us the best," she said.
Then came the final song of the evening, featuring roughly 80 Olympic alumni. The former music students gathered to sing "In Meeting We Are Blessed." Before performing, a few participants took turns offering words of gratitude to McVicker.
Tera Cain Allen, a 1998 Olympic graduate, said one of the reasons her son will graduate and continue his musical studies at college next year is because of how McVicker inspired her years ago.
"The time he takes to encourage his students to fall in love with music, and themselves, and the confidence they walk out with when they leave his tutelage. That teacher is you, Mr. Mac," Cain Allen said. "I am beyond grateful to you for seeing this scrawny girl and making her feel the bigness inside."
Ruth King, a 2000 Olympic graduate, recalled being a shy teenager when she began taking classes with McVicker, who taught King's daughter Naomi in chamber choir this year.
"Mr. Mac helped teach me to work hard, to step up and be confidence, even if you have to fake that confidence at first, and to have fun along the way," King said.
The director of Thursday's alumni song was Billy Buhl, chorus director at Heritage High School in Vancouver. The 2010 Olympic graduate chose his career path because of McVicker, who earned a standing ovation at the end of the night.
“He changed so many lives, including mine," Buhl said. He’s the reason I do this full-time. He's definitely an inspiration to thousands."
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Tom McVicker retires after musical career at Olympic High School
